A Nurse with POTS Disability: A Great Success Story!

Imagine yourself back in nursing school again, but only this time, you can't answer your instructor's patho questions quickly like you did in A&P, in which you were an expert in. Instead of sleeping the night before clinical, you lie in bed for 7 hours hoping to get a snooze, but you don't get any. You get dizzy spells often, indigestion, breathing issues, unexplained anxiety, and the doctors aren't able to figure out what's wrong with you. I went through nursing school like this for 2 years, with a condition that affects the autonomic nervous system and practically, my whole body. I never expected to undergo this struggle, let alone the hardship of nursing school, but I fought back. This is my brief, personal success story that I would like to inspire all future and current nurses, disabled and non-disabled alike with the theme: Never give up. Ever. Nurses Disabilities Article

Today, I want to announce to everyone here that I'm thankful for everyone's tips, advice, suggestions, and so much more on this great website. I don't know how I would have gone through my struggles without AllNurses.com, it's such a great place for everything nursing related. Well, I finally got in the mail my RN License and I went jumping for joy, down my neighborhood. The feeling was surreal, seemed so out of this world.

But prior to all this, I was struggling with an unknown disability throughout nursing school. I knew I wasn't the best student in theory, but I worked hard and delivered for my patients no matter what in clinical. Several times, I would get primary syncope and orthostatic intolerance, intense flushing, brain fog, headaches, IBS, sleep apnea, felt like I had to manually breathe, and a slew of other problems. It just came out of nowhere. Before taking the NCLEX-RN, in April I went to the physician to ask for Special Accommodations but got shot down, because he was afraid the Accommodations would affect my job eligibility so he refused. A few people on this site agreed as well. I wrote about that in this post here: Dr refuse to sign accommodations for NCLEX.

At this point, I was thinking "Great, I have health issues, but can't get extended time or help." Flash forward to October and I was diagnosed with POTS, or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome - just a little over a week before my NCLEX. POTS is a little known autonomic nervous system dysfunction that primarily causes orthostatic intolerance (Bear in mind OI has been well known for years), where the person's position change from supine to standing would cause either high or low BP and intense tachycardia. There's also decreased cerebral blood flow, which explains brain fog. But it also comes with a lot of other symptoms and conditions like IBS. Thinking like a nurse, I wore an abdominal binder, medical grade compression stockings, and put myself on a high Na diet with lab work done periodically - before the doctors even suggested those ideas. ?

So there I was, with an NCLEX in a week, sick, having some financial problems, had people doubting that I couldn't pass because of my condition, and the all too familiar creeping anxiety after finding out the diagnosis - a diagnosis that has plagued me all these years.

But do you know what? I refused to give up or re-schedule my test. I refused to get special accommodations. I refused to give in to this disease. I chose to fight on. :angrybird1: 3 days before the exam, I went on a break, went shopping, worked out, had fun with the family. The night before, I prepared my clothing, breakfast, faced the alarm clock the other way, did a little prayer, and somehow, went to sleep. That was surprising that morning I woke up because I normally stay up all night due to anxiety and insomnia. Whether it was the alarm clock technique or the little prayer that did it for me, I truly don't know. But I walked out on the NCLEX at 80-or so questions and a smile on my face.

Went home, took a nap, and did the Pearson Vue Trick - got the good pop up! I defied my disability without help and turned away my doubters.

I did it.

Today, reflecting on my history, my struggles, the license I now hold in my hand, and a job offer already, I just wouldn't want my story to end in any other way. This was my very own personal underdog story and I want to share this with all my fellow pre-nursing students, nursing students, fellow nurses disabled or not, and human beings in general. ? I don't know what awaits me in this new upcoming chapter in my life, but I hope to count this story as one of the many countless success stories here on allnurses.com.

Thank you all.

Congratulations!

Congrats! You are not alone! I was diagnosed with dysautonomia with POTS in April 2007. I am able to manage it without meds! Keep on keeping the faith and I hope you are doing well! God bless.

Stories like that encourage those of us who have not written the NCLEX. I always say, Anything the mind perceives it can achieve. You went in as a fighter and came out as a champ. I also love the prayer part. Prayer changes things. When God is for you, no one and nothing can be against you. God helps those who help themselves. You showed him you wanted this and you were not giving up, so he completed this for you with victory. Keep God in everything. Your health and career, and you'll continue to have wonderful testimonies to motivate students like myself and others.

xxxxxxx

Specializes in Psych.

I can't believe its taken me this many days to read this, but I am really glad I did. Congrats :nurse: and thank you for sharing!!!! your story has truly inspired me to not give up and push through all these obstacles!!!!

I'm so glad I found this post. My POTS symptoms started when I was a child. After many years of falling down the stairs the symptoms went away on their own only to return in my third year of school with a vengeance. I was very very sick falling to the floor nearly every time I stood up. Tachycardia, heat/cold intolerance, chronic fatigue, and pain. I was finally diagnosed in my last year by my school doctor whose daughter had dysautonomia. My symptoms have improved significantly allowing me to lead a normal life.

Thank you for your post, I'm glad you are doing well.

Web I started my clinicals in nursing school I would get dizzy, sweaty and lightheaded during report, before even taking on the patient. I almost passed out a few times with people asking if I was pregnant(definitely was not the case), or if something else was going on. I had no real pertinent medical history, but went to see my doctor. I was terrified that if I couldn't get through one semester of nursing school, how could I stand a career in this field that I have always wanted to do? Well my doctor said it was probably just anxiety and maybe some low blood sugar and recommend a high protein diet and a SSRI. I gained a lovely 40 lbs that year, and was able to finish clinicals without hitting the floor. I graduated and started work on CTSU with just a few episodes of the dizzy spells. After 2.5 years of nursing I did notice that my HR was chugging along around 120 all the time, and I again chalked it up to anxiety(my dad had just passed away at 61 and my best friend had lost her baby at 8 mo pregnant 2 weeks after my dad) as well as still holding on to some of that glorious weight I had gained. One night I was sitting on my couch watching Teen Mom and I felt my heart was racing, but wasn't related to the MTV programming. My boyfriend at the time(now husband) was working and is a medic so he said come by and he would do an EKG. Well my heart was racing along around 145 and sustained that stable sinus tach. I made an appointment the next day with cardiology. They did an echo and that showed a floppy atrial septum and said I probably had a PFO. My mom was with me(I was 27 at this time and still wanted my mom), and our jaws both dropped. No one had ever said anything to us back in the 80s about any heart issues. So then comes the insurance fight to have my PFO closed, fast-forward a year and my heart procedure is finally approved. They were going to put gore-tex in my heart via the cath lab. During the procedure they actually figured out it was an atrial septal defect, but were still able to repair it. Because of my ASD I wasn't always getting the most oxygenated blood flowing around, and add in the tachycardia only compounded it. Looking back I believe I was probably in SVT those times and just not getting flow like a normal person. I have been a nurse almost 5 years and I now work in PACU at a Level 1 trauma center and am beta-blocked with only mild shunting with valsalva.

Long story short: many congratulations and I definitely understand your plight!

Wow! I have been busy these last few days but I did not expect such wonderful comments. I had to "Like" each one. Props to Joe V for allowing this to be an article. Having my story turn into an article was the last thing on my mind, all I wanted to do was share a success story with folks here on AN. This is great! It seems like more people with dysautonomia/POTS are coming forth.

@GitanoRN - Wow, an official staff Guide for allnurses.com? Thank you, that really means alot to me.

I am going to send PM's to the posters who mentioned having dysautonomia/POTS and will provide some helpful resources and support. Some of you seem to have it managed well, so that's great news!

This post was months ago, but I am so happy to have found it. It made me feel so very encouraged. I too have POTS/dysautonomia. It has given me some of the hardest days of my life. I will be starting LPN school soon, and I often get discouraged and doubt myself. I guess the truth is things will always be a little harder for me than for a "normal" person, but I WANT IT so bad. It'll be a challenge but somehow I will get through it I'm sure. If you see this I'd be open to getting one of those PMs, always looking for tips, crazy coconut ;)

A fellow nurse with POTS! :) I am an Rn as well and have been diagnosed with POTS for 5 years now. I am a new grad with my BSN as of May, and am now orienting as a critical care nurse. It was so encouraging to read your article! I would love to hear how you are doing now and an update on how you've managed your chronic illness in the workplace. I have a blog on my story and more clinical information regarding the disease at Crazypotslady.wordpress.com Thx!

I have POTS. I just happened to come by this article. Gives me so much hope! So excited to start my nursing career and hear from another POTs patient who "GETS IT!"

I know this thread is old but I am feeling kinda lost and helpless. I was just diagnosed with POTS after months of feeling my worst. At first I felt crazy because no doctor could explain my tachycardia, fainting spells, BP changes and the pain I was feeling. Unfortunately for me my job hasn't been so kind. I currently work in labor&delivery but have used up my sick time dealing with this condition. I mean I was written up after a fainting spell while driving into work because I needed to go to the ER. short of the long my manager now threatens me with suspension from work even though I now finally have answers and have had doctors notes to support me. With extra shifts being forced on us my symptoms are only getting worse and I'm trying to look at this a time to make a career change. Any other nurses living with POTS that just can't manage providing bedside care?? I'm so lost as to what to do or where to take my nursing career.

Specializes in Emergency.

Congratulations! I found your story via a google search. I went to the ER Monday with severe tachycardia (202 at it's peak). I've had tachycardia virtually every time I've stood up since Monday. I'm in the midst of all the testing, but so far POTS is the most likely diagnosis. I'm starting my 3rd quarter of nursing school on Monday. Your story gives me hope. It is soul crushing to feel like you can physically do anything one day and then the next you can't stand without tachycardia. But, I will prevail ?

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